Michael O'Halloran by Gene Stratton-Porter

Its easy to link to paragraphs in the Full Text ArchiveIf this page contains some material that you want to link to but you don't want your visitors to have to scroll down the whole page just hover your mouse over the relevent paragraph and click the bookmark icon that appears to the left of it. The address of that paragraph will appear in the address bar of your browser. For further details about how you can link to the Full Text Archive please refer to our linking page.

what she keeps strained, and these buckets washed?" asked Mickey. "I wantto have her job all done when she gets back, 'cause I promised her, andthat's quite a hike she's taking."

"Well I was 'riled' for a minute, but I might as well hold myself," saidPeter. "Looks like you were right."

"Strangers coming in can always see things that folks on the job can't,"consoled Mickey.

"Well go on and tell me what you've seen here Mickey!"

Mickey hoisted the fourth bucket.

"Well, I've seen the very nicest lady I ever saw, excepting my mother,"said Mickey. "I've seen a man 'bout your size, that I like better than anyman I know, barring Mr. Douglas Bruce, and the bar is such a little one itwould take a microscope to find it." Peter laughed, which was what Mickeyhoped he would do, for he drew a deep breath and went on with greaterassurance: "I've seen a place that I thought was a new edition of Heaven,and it is, only it needs a few modern improvements----"

"Yes Mickey! The window, and what else?"

"You haven't looked at what I told you to about the window yet," saidMickey.

"Well since you insist on it, I will," said Peter.

"And while you are in there," suggested Mickey, "after you finish withthat strip of brown oilcloth and the pans and skillets adorning it, cottonup to that cook stove, and imagine standing over it while it is roaring,to get three meals a day, and all the baking, fruit canning, boilingclothes, and such, and tell me if Lily's bed was in so much hotter a placethan your wife is, all but about three hours each day."

Mickey listened as intently as he could for the separator he dared notstop, heard not a sound for what seemed a long time, and then came amazingones. He grinned sympathetically as Peter emerged red faced and raging.

"And you're about the finest man I ever met, too," commented Mickey, stillbusy with the cream. "You can see what a comfort this separator must be,but it's the _only_ thing your nice lady has got, against so many for yourwork it takes quite a large building to keep them in. Junior was showingme last night and telling me what all those machines were made for. Youknow Peter, if there was money for a hay rake, and a manure spreader, anda wheel plow, and a disk, and a reaper, and a mower, and a corn planter,and a corn cutter, and a cider press, and a windmill, and a silo, and anautomobile--you know Peter, there _should_ have been enough for thatwindow, and the pump inside, and a kitchen sink, and a bread-mixer, and adish-washer; and if there wasn't any other single thing, there ought to besome way you sell the wood, and use the money for the kind of a summerstove that's only hot under what you are cooking, and turns off the flamethe minute you finish. Honest there had Peter! I got a little gasoline onein my room that's better than what your nice lady has. The things sheshould have would cost something, cost a lot for all I know, but I betwhat she needs wouldn't take half the things in the building Junior showedme did; and it couldn't be the start of what a sick wife, and doctorbills, and strange women coming and going, and abusing you and thechildren would cost----"

"Shut up!" cried Peter. "That will do! Now you listen to me young man.Since you are so expert at seeing things, and since you've traded workwith my wife, to _rest her_ by _changing her job_, suppose you just keepyour eyes open, and make out a list of what she should have to do her workconvenient and easy as can be, and of course, comfortably. That stove'shot yet! And breakfast been over an hour too! Nothing like it must begoing full blast, and things steaming and frying!"

"Sure!" said Mickey.

"Watch a few days, and then we'll talk it over. If it is your train time,ride down with Junior, and I'll stay in the house till she comes. I guessLittle White Butterfly won't wake up; and if she does, she'll be all rightwith me. Mary dresses herself and Bobbie. Is Mary helping her Ma right?"

"Well some," said Mickey. "Not all she could! But her taking care ofBobbie is a big thing. Junior could do a lot of things, but he doesn'tseem to see them, and----"

"And so could I?" asked Peter. "Is that the ticket?"

"Yes," said Mickey.

"All right young man," said Peter. "Fix us over! We are ready for anythingthat will benefit Ma. She's the pinwheel of this place. Now you scoot! Ican see her coming."

"It's our secret then?" asked Mickey.

"Yes, it's our secret!" answered Peter gravely.

Mickey took one long look at Peaches and went running to the milk wagon.Junior offered to let him drive, so for the first time he took the linesand guided a horse. He was a happy boy as he spun on his heel waiting afew minutes for the trolley. He sat in the car with no paper in which tosearch for headlines, no anxiety as to whether he could dispose of enoughto keep Peaches from hunger that night, sure of her safety and comfort.The future, coloured by what Mrs. Harding had said to him, took on such arosy glow it almost hurt his mental eyes. He revelled in greater freedomfrom care than he ever had known. He sat straighter, and curiously watchedthe people in the car. When they entered the city and the car swung downhis street near the business centre, Mickey stepped off and hiding himselfwatched for the passing of the boy, on his old route. Before long it came,"I _like_ to sell papers," in such good imitation of his tone and callthat Mickey's face grew grave and a half-jealous little ache began in hisheart.

"Course we're better off," he commented. "Course I can't go back now, andI wouldn't if I could; but it makes me want to swat any fellow using mycall, and taking my men. Gee, the kid is doing better than I thought hecould! B'lieve he's got the idea all right. I'll just join theprocession."

Mickey stepped into line and followed, pausing whenever a paper was sold,until he was sure that his men were patronizing his substitute, then heovertook him.

"Good work, kid!" he applauded. "Been following you and you're doing well.Lemme take a paper a second. Yes, I thought so! You're leaving out thebiggest scoop on the sheet! Here, give them a laugh on this 'ChasingWrinkles.' How did you come to slide over it and not bump enough to wakeyou up? Get on this sub-line, 'Males seeking beauty doctors to renewyouth.'"

"How would you cry it?" asked the boy.

"Aw looky! Looky! Looky!" Mickey shouted, holding his side with one handand waving a paper with the other. "All the old boys hiking to the beautyparlours. Pinking up the glow of youth to beat Billie Burke. Corner onicicles; Billie gets left, 'cause the boys are using all of them! Oh my!Wheel o' time oiled with cold cream and reversed with an icicle! Morningpaper! Tells you how to put the cream on your face 'stead of in thecoffee! Stick your head in the ice box at sixty, and come out sixteen!Awah get in line, gentlemen! Don't block traffic!"

When the policemen scattered the crowd Mickey's substitute had not a paperremaining. With his pocket full of change he was running to the neareststand for a fresh supply. Mickey went with him and watched with criticaleye while the boy tried a reproduction of what he called "a daily scream!"The first time it was rather flat.

"You ain't going at it right!" explained Mickey. "'Fore you can makeanybody laugh on this job, you must see the fun of life yourself. Beautyparlours have always been for the Swell Dames and the theatre ladies, whopink up, while their gents hump to pay the bill. You ought always take onepaper home, and _read_ it, so you know what's going on in the world. Nowfrom what I've read, I know that the get-a-way of the beauty parlours iscold cream. And one of the show ladies the boys are always wild over toldthe papers long ago 'bout how she used icicles on her face to pink it up.Now if you'd a-knowed this like you should, the minute you clapped yourpeepers on that, 'Chasing Wrinkles,' you'd a-knowed where your laugh camein today, like I've told you over and over you _must_ get it. Bet Chaffnerput that there on purpose for me. Which same gives me an idea. You beencalling the Hoc de Geezer war, and the light-weight champeen of Mexico,and 'the psychological panic' something fine; but did you sell out onthem? Not on your topknot! You lost your load on the scream. _Get the jokeof life soaked in your system good_. On this, you make yourself see theplutes, and the magnates, and the city officials leaving their jobs, andhiking to the beauty parlours, to beat the dames at their daily stunt ofbeing creamed and icicled and--it's funny! When it's so funny to you thatyou just howl about it, why it's catching! Didn't you see me catch themwith it? Now go on and do it again, and get the _scream_ in."

The boy began the cry with tears of laughter in his eyes. He kept it up ashe handed out papers and took in change. Satisfied, Mickey called to him:"Tell your sire it's all over but polishing the silver."

He started down the street glancing at clocks he was passing, with nimblefeet threading the crowds until he reached the _Herald_ office; there hedodged in and making his way to the editorial desk he waited his chance.When he saw an instant of pause in the work of the busy man, he startedhis cry: "Morning papers! I _like_ to sell them!" and so on to the"Chasing Wrinkles." There because he was excited, for he knew that hisreception would depend on how good a laugh he gave them, Mickey outdidhimself. Reporters waiting assignments crowded around him; Mr. Chaffnerbeckoned, and Mickey stepped to him.

"Found it all right, did you, young man?"

"The scream lifted the load!" cried Mickey. "War, and waste, andwickedness, didn't get a look in."

"I thought you'd like that!" laughed the editor.

"Biggest scoop yet!" said Mickey. "Why it took the police to scatter thecrowd. They struggled to get papers, 'til they looked like the bird on thecoin they were passing in, trying to escape the awful things it goesthrough on the money, and get back to nature where perfectly good birdsbelong. Honest, they did!"

"Have you any poetry for me yet?"

"No, but I'm headed that way," answered Mickey.

"How so?" inquired the editor.

"Why I've got another kid so he can do my stunt 'til nobody knows thedifference, and I've gone into Mr. Bruce's office, and we're after thegrafters."

"Douglas Bruce?" queried Mr. Chaffner.

"Yes," said Mickey. "He's my boss, and say, he's the finest man you evermet; and his Joy Lady is nice as he is, and prettier than moonshine on thepark lake. I never saw a lady who could hold a candle to Miss LeslieWinton, and they just love to tell folks they're engaged."

Suddenly the editor arose from his chair, gripped his desk, leaned acrossit toward Mickey, and almost knocked him from his feet with one word.

"Why that they are going to be married, soon as Mr. Bruce gets the grafterwho's robbing the taxpayers of Multiopolis, and collects his big fee.That's what."

As suddenly as he had arisen Mr. Chaffner dropped back, and in a stupefiedway still looked at Mickey. Then: "You come with me," Mr. Chaffner saidrising, and he entered a small room and closed the door.

"Now you tell me all about this engagement."

"Maybe they don't want it in the papers yet," said Mickey. "I guess I'lllet Mr. Bruce do his own talking."

"But you said they told everybody."

"So they do," said Mickey. "And of course they'd tell you. You can callhim. His number is 500-X."

The editor made a note of it, studying Mickey.

"Yes, that would be the better way, of course," he agreed. "You have along head, young man. And so you think Miss Leslie Winton is a fine younglady?"

"Surest thing you know," said Mickey. "Why let me tell you----"

And then in a few swift words, Mickey sketched in the young woman sointelligent she had selected him from all the other "newsies" by adescription, and sent him to Mr. Bruce; how she had dolls ready to giveaway, and poor children might ride in her car; how she lived with "darlingold Daddy," and there Mickey grew enthusiastic, and told of the resthouse, and then the renting of the cabin on Atwater by the mostconsiderate of daughters for her father and her lover, and when he couldnot think of another commendatory word to say, Mickey paused, while adazed man muttered a word so low the boy scarcely heard it.

"I don't know why you say _that!_" cried Mickey.

"Ommh!" said Mr. Chaffner, slowly. "I don't either, only I didn'tunderstand they were _engaged_. It's my business to find and distributenews, and get it fresh, 'scoop it,' as our term is, and so, Mickey, wheninvestigations are going on, and everybody knows a denou--a big surpriseis coming, in order to make sure that my paper gets in on the groundfloor, I make some investigation for myself, and sometimes by accident,sometimes by intuition, sometimes by sharp deduction we _happen_ to landbefore the investigators. Of course we have personal, financial, andpolitical reasons for not spoiling the game. Now we haven't gone into theCity Hall investigation as Bruce has and we can't show figures, but weknow enough to understand where he's coming out; so when the gig upsets,we have our side ready and we'll embroider his figures with what thepublic is entitled to, in the way of news."

"Sure! But I don't see why you act so funny!"

"Oh it's barely possible that I've got ahead of your boss on a fewfeatures of his investigation."

"Aw-w-wh!" said Mickey. "Well I hope you ain't going to rush in and spoil_his_ scoop. You see he doesn't know who he's after, himself. We talkabout it a lot of times. I tell him how I've sold papers, and seen menlike he's chasing get their dose, and go sick and white, and can't everface men straight again; but he says stealing is stealing, and cut whereit will, those who rob the taxpayers must be exposed. I told him maybehe'd be surprised, and maybe he'd be sorry; but he says it's got to bestopped, no matter who gets hurt."

"Well he's got his nerve!" cried the editor.

"Yes!" agreed Mickey. "He's so fine himself, he thinks no other men worthsaving could go wrong. I told him I wished the men he was after wouldbreak their necks 'fore he gets them, but he goes right on."

"Mickey, you figure closer than your boss does."

"In one way I _do_," conceded Mickey. "It's like this: he knows books, andmen, and how things _should_ be; but I know how they _are_. See?"

"I certainly see," said the intent listener. "Mickey, when it comes to theplace where you think you know better than your boss, while it's badbusiness for me to tell you, keep your eye open, and maybe you can savehim. Books and theories are all right, but there are times when a mancomes a cropper on them. You watch, and if you think he's riding for afall, you come skinning and tell me, not over the 'phone, _come and tellme_. Here, take this, it will get you to me any time, no matter where I amor what I'm doing. Understand?"

"You think Mr. Bruce is going to get into trouble?"

"His job is to get other people into trouble----"

"But he says he ain't got a thing to do with it," said Mickey. "He saysthey get themselves into trouble."

"That's so too," commented Mr. Chaffner. "Anyway, keep your mouth tightshut, and your eyes wide open, and if you think your boss is getting intodeep water, you come and tell me. I want things to go right with _you_,because I'm depending on that poem for my front page, soon."

Mickey held out his hand.

"Sure!" he agreed. "I'm in an awful good place now to work up the poetrypiece, being right out among the cows and clover. And about Mr. Bruce,gee! I wish he was plowing corn. I just hate his job he's doing now. Sureif I see rocks I'll make a run for you. Thanks Boss!"

Mickey had lost time, and he hurried, but things seemed to be happening,for as he left the elevator and sped down the hall, he ran into Mr. JamesMinturn. With a hasty glance he drew back, and darted for the office door.Mr. Minturn's face turned a dull red.

"One minute, young man!" he called.

"I'm late," said Mickey shortly. "I must hurry."

"Bruce is late too. I just came from his office and he isn't there,"answered Mr. Minturn.

"Well I want to get it in order before he comes."

"In fact you want anything but to have a word to say to me!" hazarded Mr.Minturn.

"Well then, since you are such a good guesser, I ain't just crazy aboutyou," said Mickey shortly.

"And I'm tired of having you run from me as if I were afflicted withsmallpox," said Mr. Minturn.

"I've noticed it on occasions so frequent and conspicuous that others, nodoubt, will do the same," said Mr. Minturn. "If you are all Bruce thinksyou, then you should give a man credit for what he tries to do. Yousurprised me too deeply for words with the story you brought me one day. Iknew most of your facts from experience, better than you did, except theone horrible thing that shocked me speechless; but Mickey, when I had timeto adjust myself, I made the investigations you suggested, and proved whatyou said. I deserve your scorn for not acting faster, but what I had to docouldn't be done in a day, and for the boys' sake it had to be done asprivately as possible. There's no longer any reason why you should regardme as a monster----"

"I'm awful glad you told me," Mickey said. "I surely did have you sized upsomething scandalous. And yet I couldn't quite make out how, if my viewwas right, Mr. Bruce and Miss Leslie would think so much of you."

"They are friends I'm proud to have," said Mr. Minturn. "And I hope you'llconsider being a friend to me, and to my boys also. If ever a times comeswhen I can do anything for you, let me know."

"Now right on that point, pause a moment," said Mickey. "You _are_ afriend to my boss?"

"I certainly am, and I'm under deep obligations to Miss Winton. If ever myhome becomes once more what it was to start with, it will be her work.Could a man bear heavier obligation than that?"

"Well hardly," said Mickey. "Course there wouldn't likely ever be anythingyou could do for Miss Leslie that would square _that_ deal; but I'mworried about my boss something awful."

"Why Mickey?" asked Mr. Minturn.

"That investigation you started him on."

"I did start him on that. What's the matter?"

"Well the returns are about all in," said Mickey, "and the man who drawsthe candy suit is about ready to put it on. See?"

"Good! Exactly what he should do."

"Yes exactly," agreed Mickey dryly, "but _who_ do you figure it is? We gotsome good friends in the City Hall."

"Now nix on knocking me down with _your_ 'whats!'" he cried. "I just beenhammered meller with his, and dragged into his room, and shut up, andscared stiff, about twenty minutes ago."

"_The devil you say!_" exploded Mr. Minturn.

"No, I said Chaffner!" insisted Mickey. "Chaffner of the _Herald_. I'mgoing to write a poetry piece for his front page, some day soon now. Ibeen selling his paper all my life."

"And so you're a friend of Chaffner's?"

"Oh not bosom and inseparable," explained Mickey. "I haven't seen so awfulmuch of him, but when I do, we get along fine."

"And he said----?" questioned Mr. Minturn.

"Just what I been afraid of all the time," said Mickey. "That theseinvestigations at times got into places you didn't _look_ for, and madeawful trouble; and that my boss _might_ get it with his."

"Mickey, you will promise me something?" asked Mr. Minturn. "You see Istarted Mr. Bruce on this trying to help him to a case that would bringhim into prominence, so if it should go wrong, it's in a way through me.If you think Douglas is unlike himself, or worried, will you tell me? Willyou?"

"Why surest thing you know!" cried Mickey. "Why I should say I would! Gee,you're great too! I think I'll like you awful well when we getacquainted."

Mickey was busy when Bruce entered, and with him was Leslie Winton. Theybrought the breath of spring mellowing into summer, freighted withemanations of real love, touched and tinctured with joy so habitual it hadbecome spontaneous on the part of Leslie Winton, and this morningcontagious with Douglas Bruce. Mickey stood silent, watched them closely,and listened. So in three minutes, from ragged scraps and ejaculationseffervescing from what was running over in their brains, he knew that theyhad taken an early morning plunge into Atwater, landed a black bass, had abreakfast of their own making, at least in so far as gathering wild redraspberries from the sand pit near the bridge; and then they had raced tothe Multiopolis station to start Mr. Winton on a trip west to try to sellhis interest in some large land holdings there, the care of which he wasfinding burdensome.

"Heavens, how I hope Daddy makes that sale!" cried Leslie. "I've been soworried about him this summer."

"I wondered at you not going with him," said Douglas.

"He didn't seem to want me," said Leslie. "He said it was a flying tripand he was forced to be back before some reports from his office werefiled; so he thought I wouldn't enjoy it; and for the first time in mylife he told me distinctly that he didn't have _time_ for me. Fancy Daddy!I can't understand it."

"I've noticed that he has been brooding and preoccupied of late, not atall like himself," said Douglas. "Have you any idea what troubles him?"

"Of course! He told me!" said Leslie. "It's Mr. Swain. When Daddy was aboy, Mr. Swain was his father's best friend, and when grandfather died, heasked him to guide Daddy, and he not only did that, but he opened hispurse and started him in business. Now Mr. Swain is growing old, and someof his investments have gone wrong; just when political changes madebusiness close as could be, he lost heavily; and then came the war. Therewas no way but for Daddy to stay here and fight to save what he could forhim. He told me early last fall; we talked of it again in the winter, andthis spring most of all--I've told you!"

"Yes I know! I wish I could help!" said Douglas.

"I do too! I wish it intensely," said Leslie. "When father comes, we'llask him. We're young and strong, and we should stand by. I never saw Daddyin such a state. He _must_ sell that land. He _said_ so. He said lastnight he'd be forced to sell if he only got half its value, and thatwouldn't be enough."

"Enough for what?" asked Douglas.

"To help Mr. Swain," said Leslie.

"He's going to use his fortune?" queried Douglas.

"I don't know that Daddy has holdings large enough to deserve the word,"said Leslie. "He's going to use what he has. I urged him to; it's all hecan do."

"Did you take into consideration that it may end in his failure?" askedDouglas.

"I did," said Leslie, "and I forgot to tell him, but I will as soon as hecomes back: he can have all mother left me, too, if he needs it."

"Leslie, you're a darling, but have you ever had even a small taste ofpoverty?" asked Douglas.

"No! But I've always been curious, if I did have, to see if I couldn't somanage whatever might be my share, that it would appear to the worldwithout that peculiar state of grime which always seems to distinguishit," said the girl. "I'm not afraid of poverty, and I'm not afraid ofwork; it's dishonour that would kill me. Daddy accepted obligations; ifthey involve him, which includes me also, then to the last cent wepossess, we pay back."

Mickey drew the duster he handled between vacuum days across a table andsteadily watched first Douglas, then Leslie, both of whom had forgottenhim.

"That should be good enough for Daddy; what about me?" asked Douglas. "Ifever I get in a close place, does the same hold good?"

"If I know what you are doing, surely!"

"I knew you were a 'Bearer of Morning' first time I saw you," saidDouglas. "But we are forgetting Mickey."

"Well it happened so fast," said Mickey, "and I didn't want to bother youwhen your head was so full of your old investigation and your own moving."

"Did you hear that Leslie?" he asked. "Mickey dislikes my investigation asmuch as the man who comes out short is going to, any day now. So you'vemoved Peaches to the country? You should have told me, first."

"I'm sorry if you don't like it," said Mickey. "You see my room wasgetting awful hot. I never was there days this time of year, and nights Islept on the fire-escape; all right for me, but it wouldn't do for Lily.Why should I have told you?"

"Because Miss Winton had plans for her," explained Douglas. "She intendedto take her to Atwater, and she even contemplated having her back examinedfor you."

Mickey's eyes danced and over his face spread a slow grin ofcomprehension.

"Well?" ejaculated Douglas.

"Nothing!" said Mickey.

"Well?" demanded Douglas.

Mickey laughed outright. Then he sobered suddenly and spoke gravely,directly to Miss Winton.

"Thank you for thinking of it, and planning for her," he said. "I wasafraid you would."

"Thank me for something you feared I would do! Mickey, aren't you gettingthings mixed?"

"Thank you for thinking of Lily and wanting to help her," explainedMickey, "but she doesn't need you. She's mine and I'm going to keep her;so what I can do for her will have to be enough, until I can do better."

"I see," said Leslie. "But suppose that she should have attention at once,that you can't give her, and I can?"

"Then I'd be forced to let you, even if it took her from me," agreedMickey. "But thank the Lord, things ain't that way. I didn't take my say-so for it; I went to the head nurse of the Star of Hope; she's gone to thenew Elizabeth Home now; she loves to nurse children best. All the timefrom the first day she's told me how, and showed me, so Lily has beentaken care of right, you needn't worry about that. And where she is now,if she was a queen-lady she couldn't have grander; honest she couldn't!"

"But Mickey, how are you going to pay for all that?" queried Douglas.

"Easy as falling off a car in a narrow skirt," said Mickey. "'Member thatbig house where things are Heaven-white, and a yard full of trees, and thefence corners are cut with the shears, and the street--I mean the road--swept with a broom, this side the golf grounds about two miles?"

"Yes," said Douglas. "The woman there halted my car one evening and spoketo me about you."

"Oh she did?" exclaimed Mickey. "Well I hope you gave me a good send-off,'cause she's a lady I'm most particular about. You see I stopped there fora drink, the day you figured instead of playing, and she told me about aboy who was to be sent out by the _Herald_ and hadn't come, and as she wasready, and interested, she was disappointed. So I just said to her if theboy didn't come, how'd she like to have a nice, good little girl thatwouldn't ever be the least bother. Next day she came to see us, and awayLily went sailing to the country in a big automobile, and she isn't comingback 'til my rooms are cool, if she can be spared then."

"But how are you going to pay, Mickey? Most people only take children fora week----?"

"Yes I know," said Mickey. "But these folks haven't ever tried it before,and they don't know the ropes, so we're doing it our own way, and it workssomething grand."

"If they are suited----" said Douglas. "That place is far better thanwhere we feel so comfortable."

"We started this morning," said Mickey. "The lady and I traded jobs; shesat on a hill under an apple tree and watched sunrise. I washed thedishes, sep'rated the cream, and scrubbed the porch for her. When Lilywakes up, the lady is going to bathe, rub, feed her, and see to her likeshe owned her, to pay me back. It's a bargain! You couldn't beat it, couldyou?"

"Of course if you want to turn yourself into a housemaid!" said Douglasirritably.

"You can search me!" cried the boy, throwing out his hands in his familiargesture. "Why I just love to! I always helped mother! Pay? I'll pay allright; the nice lady will say I do, and so will Peter. It's my mostimportant job to make her glad of me as I am of her. And if you put it upto me, I'd a lot rather have my job than yours; and I bet I get more joyfrom it for my family!"

"Croaker!" laughed Bruce.

"'Tain't going to be a scream for the fellow who comes short," warnedMickey.

"So you're planning not to allow me to do anything for Lily?" inquiredMiss Winton.

"Well there's something you can do this minute if you'd like," saidMickey. "I was going to hurry up and see my Sunshine Nurse, but it's along way to the new hospital, and you could do as well, if you would."

"Mickey, I'd love to. What is it? And may I see your family? You know Ihaven't had a peep yet."

"Well soon now, you may," said Mickey. "You see I ain't quite ready."

"Mickey, what do you know about the new Elizabeth Home?" asked Douglas.

"Only that a rich lady gave her house and money, and that my SunshineNurse is going to be there after this. I was going for my first trip to-night."

"I wondered," said Douglas. "Mickey, when you get there, you'll find thatyou've been there _before_."

"My eye!" cried Mickey.

"Fact! Mr. Minturn did put his foot down, and took his boys----" beganDouglas.

"Yes he was telling me this morning. That's what I get for stopping at thefirst page. If I'd a-looked inside, bet I'd have known that long ago." "Hewas telling you?" queried Douglas.

"Yes. I guess I must kind of shied at him 'til he noticed it; I didn't_know_ I did, but he caught me and told me his troubles by force. We shookhands to quit on. Say, he's just fine when you know him, and there doesn'tseem to be a thing on earth he wouldn't do for you, Miss Leslie. Why hesaid if ever he found happiness again, and his home become what it should,it would be because you were sorry for him, and fixed things."

"Mickey, did he really?" rejoiced the girl. "Douglas, when may Mickey showme what he wants me to do?"

"Right now," he answered. "I got a load of books while he was awayyesterday and I haven't started them yet. Now is the best time."

When Mickey made a leap from the trolley platform that night, at what healready had named Cold Cream Junction, he was almost buried under boxes.He stepped high and prideful, for he had collected the money from hispaper route and immediately spent some of it under Leslie Winton'ssupervision.

Pillow bolstered, on the front porch, on his comfort lay the tiny girl heloved. Mickey stopped and made a detailed inspection. Peaches leanedforward and reached toward him; her greeting was indescribably sweet.Mickey dropped the bundles and went into her arms; even in his joy henoted a new strength in her grip on him, an unusual clinging. He drew backhalf alarmed.

"Well I hope I don't bust!" he said. "I never was so glad as I am thateverything is good for you."

"They's two things that ain't good."

"Well if things ain't right here, with what everybody's doing for you,they ought to be!" cried Mickey. "You cut complaining right out, MissChicken!"

"You forgot to set my lesson, an' I ain't had my po'try piece for twodays. That ain't complainin'."

"No 'tain't honey," conceded Mickey regretfully. "No 'tain't! That's justall right. I thought you were going to start kicking, and I wasn't goingto stand for it. Course I'll set your lesson; course I'll make up yourpiece, but you must give me a little time. I was talking with Mr. Chaffnerof the _Herald, our_ paper you know, and he's beginning to get in a hurryabout his piece, too."

"I want mine first!" demanded Peaches.

"Sure! You'll get it first! Always! But I'm going to do something for youbefore I make it, 'cause I won't know how it goes 'til afterward. See?"

"What you going to do?" she questioned. "What's all the bundles? My theylook excitements!"

"And so they are!" triumphed Mickey. "Where are all the folks? Do theyleave you alone like this?"

"No, they don't leave me alone only when I'm asleep in the room," saidPeaches. "They saw you coming an' went away 'cause they know familieslikes to be alone, sometimes. Ain't they smart to know that?"

Mickey carried her in then he returned for the boxes. He opened one andfrom it selected a pair of pink stockings and slipped them on Peaches;then tiny, soft buckskin moccasins embroidered and tied with ribbons tomatch the hose. Peaches squealed and clapped her hand over her mouth tomuffle the sound; but Mrs. Harding heard and came to the door. Mickeyasked for help.

"Young ladies who are going automobiling and taking walks are well enoughto have dresses, and things that all _good_ girls have," he announced."But I'm a little dubious about how these things go. Will you dress her?"

"Yes," said Mrs. Harding. "You fill the water bucket and the wood box, andstart the fire for supper."

Mrs. Harding looked over the contents of the box and from plain softpieces of underwear chose a gauze shirt, a dainty combination suit and atucked and trimmed petticoat, while Peaches laughed and sobbed for purejoy. Then Mickey came, and Mrs. Harding went away. After various trials hedecided on a white dress with pink ribbons run in the neck, sleeves, andbelt, slipping it on her and carefully fastening it.

Then he brushed her hair and put on a new pink ribbon, not so large asthose she had, but much more becoming. He laid a soft warm little graysweater with white collar and cuffs in reach, and in turning it shediscovered a handkerchief and a pair of gloves in one pocket. Immediatelyshe searched the other and produced a purse with five pennies in it. Thenfor no reason at all, Peaches began to cry.

"Oh well then, go on and cry, if you want to," agreed Mickey. "But you'dlook much nicer to show Mrs. Harding and Peter if you wouldn't!"

Peaches immediately wiped her eyes. Mickey lifted and carried her back tothe porch, placing her in a pillow-piled big chair. Then he put the gloveson her hands, set a hat on her head and tied the pink ribbons. Peachesboth laughed and cried at that, while the Harding family came in becausethey could not wait. Mickey raised and put in Peaches' shaking fingers thecrowning glory of any small girl: a wonderful little pink parasol. Peachesappeared for a minute as if a faint were imminent.

"Now do you see why I couldn't come with a poetry piece when my head wasso full of these things?"

"Yes Mickey, but you will before night?" she begged.

"You want it even now?" he marvelled.

"More 'an the passol, even!" she declared.

"Well you fool little sweet kid!" cried Mickey and choked. He fled aroundthe house as Peter came out. In his ears as he went sounded Peter's bigvoice and the delighted cries of the family.

"I want Mickey!" wailed Peaches.

He heard her call and ran back fast for fear he might be so slow reachingher that Peter would serve. But to his joy he found that he alone wouldanswer.

"I want to see me!" demanded Peaches.

"Sure you do!" cried Peter. "I'll just hand down the big hall mirror soyou can see all of you at once."

He brought it and set it before her. Peaches stared and drew back. Shecried, "Aw-w--ah!" in a harsh, half-scared voice. She gripped Mickey withone hand and the parasol with the other; she leaned and peeped, andmarvelled, and smiled at a fully clothed little girl in the glass, whilethe image smiled back. Peaches thought of letting go of Mickey to touchher hat and straighten her skirt, but felt so lost without him, that shehanded Peter the parasol, and used that hand, while the other clung to herrefuge. When Mickey saw the treasure go in his favour, he swallowed lumpsof emotion so big that the Hardings could see them running down histhroat. Peaches intent on the glass smiled, grimaced, tilted her head, andfinally began flirting outrageously with herself, until all of themlaughed and recalled her. She looked at Peter, smiled her most winsomesmile and exclaimed: "Well ain't I the----"

"Now you go easy, Miss Chicken," warned Mickey.

"Mickey, if you hadn't stopped me I'd done it sure!" sobbed Peaches,collapsing against him. "'F I had, would you a-took these bu'ful things'way from me?" "No I wouldn't!" said Mickey. "I couldn't to save me. But I_should!_"

"Well I ought to had the sense not to spring so much all at once," saidMickey, "but it all seemed to belong. Sure I will, you poor kid!"

"And Mickey, you won't forget the lesson and the po'try piece?" shepanted.

"No, I won't forget," promised Mickey, as he stretched her among hertreasures and watched her fall asleep even while he slipped the glovesfrom her fingers.

Next morning she found the lesson and the poetry on her slate. Mrs.Harding bathed and clothed her in the little garments, and showed herenough more for the changes she would need, even two finer dresses forSunday. She left the coat, hat, and parasol in reach. Then Peachesresolutely took up her pencil and set herself to copy the lines withoutknowing enough of the words to really understand; but she was extremelywell acquainted with one word that Mickey had said "just flew out of hismouth when he looked at her," and in her supreme satisfaction over her newpossessions she was sure the lines must be concerning them. Most of allshe was delighted with her slippers. A hundred times that morning shelooked down, wiggled her toes and moved her feet so that she could seethem better. Between whiles she copied over and over:

_LILY

Miss L. P. O'Halloran daily went walking,In slippers so nifty the neighbours were talking.The minute she raised her gay pink parasolThe old red cow began to friskily bawl.When they observed the neat coat on her back,All the guineas in the orchard cried: "Rack! Pot rack!"She was so lovely a bird flying her way,Sang "Sweet, sweet, sweet!" all the rest of the day._

Peter came in to visit a few minutes, so she gave him the slate to see ifhe could read her copy, and by this ruse she found what the lines were.She was so overjoyed she opened her lips and then clapped both hands overthem, to smother the ejaculation at her tongue's end. To distract Petershe stuck out her foot and moved it for him to see.

"Ain't that pretty, an' jus' as soft and fine?" she asked.

"Yes," said Peter. "They remind me of a flower called 'Lady Slipper,' thatgrows along the edge of the woods. It's that shape and the prettiest goldyellow, but little, they'd about fit your doll."

"Oh Peter, could you get me one? I want to see."

"Why I would, but they are all gone now, honey," answered Peter. "Nextyear I'll remember and bring you some when they bloom. But it's likely bythat time you can go yourself, and see them."

"Now father, you said if I'd help till after harvest, I could go toMultiopolis and hunt a job," Junior reminded Peter. "When may I?"

"I remember," said Peter. "You may start Monday morning if you want to. Maand I have talked it over, and if you're bound to leave us, I guessthere'd never be a better time. I can get Jud Jason to drive the creamwagon for me, and I'll do the best I can at the barn. I had hoped thatwe'd be partners and work together all our days; but if you have decidedupon leaving us, of course you won't be satisfied till you've done it."

"Well I can try," said Junior, "and if I don't like it I can come back."

"I don't know about that," objected Peter. "Of course I'd have other helphired; your room would be occupied and your work contracted for----"

"Well I hadn't figured on that," he said. "I supposed I could go and tryit, and if I didn't like it I could come home. Couldn't I come home Ma?"

Nancy slowly became a greenish white colour; but the situation had beendiscussed so often, it worried her dreadfully; now that it had to be met,evasion would do no good. Peter grimly watched her. He knew she wasstruggling with a woman's inborn impulse to be the haven of her children,her son, her first-born, especially. He was surprised to hear her saying:"Why I hardly think so Junior, it wouldn't be a right start in life. Youmust figure that whatever kind of work you find, or whoever you work for,there will be things you won't like or think fair, but if you are going tobe your own man, you must begin like a man; and of course a man doesn't gointo business with his mind made up to run for his mother's petticoats,the first thing that displeases him. No, I guess if you go, you must startwith your mind made up to stay till the October term of school opens,anyway."

"Then we'll call that settled," said Peter. "You may go with Mickey on theMonday morning car and we probably won't see you again till you are one ofthe leading business men of Multiopolis, and drive out in your automobile.Have you decided which make you'll get?"

"Well from what I've learned driving yours, if I were buying one myself,I'd get a Glide-by," said Junior. "They strike me as the best car on themarket."

Peter glanced sharply at his son. When he saw that the answer wasperfectly sincere, his heart almost played him the trick he had expectedfrom his wife.

"All right Ma, gather up his clothes and get them washed, and have himready," said Peter.

"I thought maybe you'd take me in the car and sort of look around withme," said Junior.

"I don't see how I am going to do it, with both our work piled on me,"said Peter. "And besides, I'm a farmer born and bred; I wouldn't have thefirst idea about how to get a boy a job in the city or what he ought to door have. Mickey is on to all that; he'll go with you, won't you Mickey?"

"Sure!" said Mickey. "And you can save a lot by using my room. It is high,but it's clean"--Junior scowled but Mickey proceeded calmly--"and while itgets hot in the daytime, if you open the door at night, and push the bedbefore the window, it soon cools off, while very hottest times I alwaystake to the fire-escape. It's nice and cool there."

"Of course! That will be the ticket," said Peter heartily. "A boy startingwith everything to learn couldn't expect to earn much, and when youhaven't Ma and me to depend on for your board you'll be glad to have thebed free. Thank you Mickey, that's fine!"

Junior did not look as if he thought it were. Presently he asked: "Howmuch money ought I to take to start on, Mickey?"

"Hully gee!" said Mickey. "Why your fare in! You're going to make money,kid, not to spend it. If I was turned loose there with just one cent I'dbe flying by night, and if I hadn't the cent, I'd soon earn it."

"How could you Mickey?" asked Junior eagerly.

"With or without?" queried Mickey.

"Both!" exclaimed Junior.

"Well, 'without,'" said Mickey, "I'd keep my lamps trimmed and burning,and I'd catch a lady falling off a car, or pick up a purse, or a kid, orrun an errand. 'With,' there'd be only one thing I'd think of, becausepapers are my game. I'd buy one for a penny and sell it for two; buy two,sell for four; you know the multiplication table, don't you? But of courseyou don't want a street job, you want in a factory or a store. If youcould do what you like best, what would it be Junior?"

Junior opened his mouth several times and at last admitted he hadn'tthought that far: "Why I don't know."

"Well," said Mickey calmly, "there's making things, that's factories.There's selling them, that's stores. There's doctors, and lawyers, that'sprofessional, like my boss. And there's office-holders, like the men he isafter, but of course you'd have to be old enough to vote and educatedenough to do business, and have enough money earned at something else tobuy your office; that's too far away. Now if you don't like the street,there's the other three. The quickest money would be in the first two. Ifyou were making things, what would you make?"

"Automobiles!" said Junior.

"All right!" said Mickey, "we can try them first. If we can't find afactory that you'd like, what would you rather sell?"

"Automobiles," said Junior promptly.

"Gee!" said Mickey. "I see where we hit that business at both ends. If wemiss, what next?"

"I don't know," said Junior. "I'll make up my mind when I have lookedaround some."

"You can come closer deciding out here, than you can in the rush of thestreets," said Mickey. "There, you'll be rustling for your supper, andyou'll find boys hunting jobs thick as men at a ball game, and lots ofthem with dads to furnish their room and board."

Junior hesitated, but Mickey excused himself and without having been toldwhat to do, he accomplished half a day's work for Mrs. Harding, then begansome of Peter's jobs and afterward turned his attention to hearingPeaches' lesson and setting her new copy. When Junior paid his fare Mondaymorning, Mickey, judging by the change he exhibited, realized that bothhis mother and father had given him, to start on, a dollar to spend.Mickey would have preferred that he be penniless. He decided as they rancityward that the first thing was to part Junior from his money, so hetold him he would be compelled to work in the forenoon, and for a while inthe afternoon, and left him to his own devices on the street, with ameeting-place agreed on at noon.

When Mickey reached the spot he found Junior with a pocket full of candy,eating early peaches, and instead of hunting work, he had attended threepicture shows. Mickey could have figured to within ten cents of what wasleft of one of Junior's dollars; but as the cure did not really beginuntil the money disappeared, the quicker it went the better. As he ate hissandwich and drank his milk, he watched Junior making a dinner of meat,potatoes, pie and ice-cream, and made a mental estimate of the remains ofthe other dollar. As a basis for a later "I told you so," he remonstrated,and pointed out the fact that there were hundreds of unemployed men ofstrength, skilled artisans with families to support, looking for work thatminute.

"I know your dad signed up that contract with Jud Jason," he said, "'causeI saw him, and that means that he's got no use for you for three months;so you must take care of yourself for that long at least, if you got anyginger in you. Of course," explained Mickey, "I know that most city menthink country boys won't stick, and are big cowards, but I'm expecting youto show them just where they are mistaken. I know you're not lazy, and Iknow you got as much sand and grit as any city boy, but you must _proveit_ to the rest of them. You must show up!"

"Sure!" said Junior. "I'll convince them!"

By night the last penny of the second dollar was gone, so Junior borrowedhis fare to his room from Mickey, who was to remain with him to show himthe way back and forth, and to spend an early hour in search ofemployment. It was Mickey's first night away from Peaches, and while heknew she was safe, he felt that when night came she would miss him. Thethought that she might cry for him tormented him to speech. He pointed outto Junior very clearly that he would have to mark corners and keep hiseyes open because he need not expect that he could leave her longer thanthat. Junior agreed with him, for he had promised Peaches in saying good-bye to keep Mickey only one night.

He had treated himself to candy and unusual fruits until his money wasgone, while by night these and a walk of miles on hot pavement had bredsuch an appetite that he felt he had not eaten a full meal in years, sowhen Mickey brought out the remains of the food Mrs. Harding had givenhim, her son felt insulted. But Mickey figured a day on the basis of whathe had earned, what he had expended, what he must save to be ready whenthe great surgeon came, and prepared exactly as he would have done forhimself and Peaches. On reaching the tenement and climbing until his legsached, Junior faced stifling heat, but Mickey opened the window andstarted a draft by setting the door wide. While they ate supper, Mickeytalked unceasingly, but Junior was sulkily silent. He tried the fire-escape, but one glance from the rickety affair, hung a mile above theground it seemed to him, was enough, so he climbed back in the window andtossed on the bed.

Junior did his first real thinking that night. He was ravenous beforemorning and aghast at what he was offered for breakfast. He was eager tofind work and he knew for what his first day's wage would go. In justiceto his own sense of honour and in justice to Junior, mere common fairness,such as he would have wanted in like case, for the first few days Mickeyhonestly and unceasingly hunted employment. With Junior at his elbow hesuffered one rebuff after another, until it was clear to him that it wasimpossible for a country boy unused to the ways of the city to find or tohold a job at which he could survive, even with his room provided, whilethe city swarmed with unemployed men. Everywhere they found the work theywould have liked done by an Italian, Greek, Swede, German, or Polander whoseemed strong as oxen, oblivious, as no doubt they were, to treatmentJunior never had seen accorded a balky mule, and able to live on a chunkof black bread, a bit of cheese, and a few cents' worth of stale beer.When Mickey had truly convinced himself of what he had believed, with afree conscience he then began allowing Junior to find out for himselfexactly what he was facing. By that time Junior had lost himself on theway to Mickey's rooms, spent a night wandering the streets, andbreakfastless was waiting before the Iriquois.

Mickey listened sympathetically, supplied a dime, which seemed to be allhe had, for breakfast, and said as he entered the building: "Well kid,'til we can find a job you'll just have to go up against the street. If Ican live and save money at it, you ought to be smart enough to _live_. Goto it 'til I get my day's work done. You just can't go home, becausethey'll think you don't amount to anything; the fellows will make game ofyou, and besides Jud is doing wonderfully well, your father said so. Heseemed so tickled over him, I guess the fact is he is getting more helpfrom him that he ever did from Junior boy, so your job there isn't open.Go at whatever you can see that needs to be done, 'til I get my work overand we'll try again. I'll be out about three, and you can meet me here."

Empty and disheartened Junior squeezed the dime and hurried toward thenearest restaurant. But the transaction had been witnessed by a boy ashungry as he, and hardened to the street. How Junior came to be sprawlingon the sidewalk he never knew; only that his hand involuntarily opened infalling and he threw it out to catch himself, so he couldn't find thedime. Before noon he was sick and reeling with sleeplessness and hunger.He was waiting when it was Mickey's time to lunch, but he did not come,and in desperation Junior really tried the street. At last he achieved anickel by snatching a dropped bundle from under a car. He sat a long timein a stairway looking at it, and then having reached a stage where he wasmore sick, and less hungry, he hunted a telephone booth and tried to gethis home, only to learn that the family was away. Gladdened by the thoughtthat they might be in the city, he walked miles, watching the curb beforestores where they shopped, searching for their car, and he told himselfthat if he found it, nothing could separate him from the steering gearuntil he sped past all regulation straight to his mother's cupboard.

He had wanted ham and chicken in the beginning; later helping himself tocold food in the cellar seemed a luxury; then crackers and cookies in thedining-room cupboard would have satisfied his wildest desire; and beforethree o'clock, Junior, in mad rebellion, remembered his mother's slopbucket. How did she dare put big pieces of bread and things good enoughfor any one to eat in feed for pigs and poultry! If he ever reached homehe resolved he would put a stop to that.

At three to Mickey's cheerful, "Now we'll find a job or make it," heanswered: "No we will find a square meal or steal it," and then he told.Mickey watched him reflectively, but as he figured the case, it was notfor him to suggest retreat. He condoled, paid for the meal, and startedhunting work again, with Junior silent and dogged beside him. To thesurprise of both, almost at once they found a place for a week with aflorist.

Junior went to work. After a few tasks bunglingly performed, he was triedon messenger service and started with his carfare to deliver a boxcontaining a funeral piece. He had no idea where he was to go, or what carline to take. In his extremity a bootblack came to his aid. He safelydelivered the box at a residence where the owner was leaving his door forhis car. He gave Junior half a dollar. Junior met the first friendlygreeting he had encountered in Multiopolis, as he reached the street.

Two boys larger than he walked beside him and talked so frankly, thatbefore he reached his car line, he felt he had made friends. They offeredto show him a shorter cut to the car line just by going up an alley andout on a side street. At the proper place for seclusion, the one behindknocked him senseless, and the one before wheeled and relieved him ofmoney, and both fled. Junior lay for a time, then slowly came back, but hewas weak and ill. He knew without investigating what had happened, andpreferring the mercy that might be inside to that of the alley, he crawledinto a back door. It proved to be a morgue. A workman came to hisassistance, felt the lump on his head, noticed the sickness on his face,and gave him a place to rest. Junior was dubious from the start aboutfeeling better, as he watched the surroundings. The proprietor came pastand inquired who he was and why he was there. Junior told him, and showedthe lumps behind his ear and on his forehead, to prove his words.

The man was human. He gave Junior another nickel and told him which car totake from his front door. He had to stand aside and see five pieces ofcharred humanity from a cleaning-establishment explosion, carried throughthe door before he had a chance to leave it. He reached the florist's twohours late and in spite of his story and his perfectly discernible bumpsto prove it, he was discharged as a fool for following strangers into analley.

On the streets once more and penniless, he started to walk the miles tohis room. When he found the building he thought it would be cooler toclimb the fire-escape and sit on it until he decided what to do, then hecould open the door from the inside. At the top he thrust a foot, head,and shoulders into the room and realized he had selected the wrong escape.He tried to draw back, but two men leaped for him, and as he was doubledin the window he could not make a swift movement.

He was landed in the middle of the room, cursed for a prowling thief, hisprotestations silenced, his pockets searched, and when they yieldednothing, his body stripped of its clean, wholesome clothing and he waspitched down the stairs. He appealed to several people, and found that theless he said the safer he was. He snatched a towel from a basket ofclothes before a door, twisted it around him, and ran down the street toMickey's front entrance. With all his remaining breath he sped up flightafter flight of stairs and at last reached the locked door, only to findthat the key was in the pocket of his stolen trousers, and he could notforce his way with his bare hands. He could only get to his clothing bytrying the fire-escapes again. He was almost too sick to see or cling tothe narrow iron steps, but that time he counted carefully, and lookeduntil he was sure before he entered. He found his clothes, and in theintense heat dressed himself, but he could not open the door. He sat onthe fire-escape to think.

Presently he espied one of the men who had robbed him watching him fromanother escape, and being afraid and beaten sore, he crept into the heat,and lay on the bed beside the window. After a while a breath of air camein, and Junior slept the sleep of exhaustion. When he awoke it wasmorning, his head aching, his mouth dry, and the room cooler. Glancingtoward the door he saw it standing open and then noticed the disorder ofthe room, and of himself, and sat up to find he was on the floor, oncemore disrobed, and the place stripped of every portable thing in it, eventhe bed, little stove, and the trunk filled with clothes and a fewpersonal possessions sacred to Mickey because they had been his mother's.The men had used the key in Junior's pocket to enter while he slept,drugged him, and carried away everything. He crept to the door and closedit, then sank on the floor and cried until he again became unconscious. Itwas four o'clock that afternoon when Mickey looked in and understood thesituation. He bent over Junior's bruised and battered body, stared at hisswollen, tear-stained face, and darting from the room, brought water, andthen food and clothing.

Redressed and fed, Junior lay on the floor and said to Mickey: "Go to thenearest 'phone and call father. Tell him I'm sick, to come in a hurry withthe car."

"Sure!" said Mickey. "But hadn't we better wait 'til morning now, and getyou rested and fed up a little?"

"No," said Junior. "The sooner he sees the fix I'm in the better he willrealize that I'm not a quitter; but that this ain't just the place for me.Mickey, did you ever go through this? Why do I get it so awful hard?"

"It's because the regulars can tell a mile off you are country, Junior,"said Mickey. "All my life I've been on the streets so they knew me forcity born, and supposed I'd friends to trace them and back me if theyabused me; and then, I always look ahead sharp, and don't trust a livingsoul about alleys. You say the next escape but one? I've got to find them,and get back my things. I want mother's, and Lily and I can't live thiswinter with no bed, and no stove, and nothing at all."

"I'm sorry about your mother's things Mickey, but don't worry over therest," said Junior. "Pa and Ma won't ever be willing to give up Peachesagain, I can see that right now, and if they keep her, they will have totake you too, because of course you can't be separated from her; yourgoods, I'll pay back. I owe you a lot as it is, but I got some money inthe bank, and I'll have to sell my sheep."

Junior laid his head on his arm and sobbed weakly.

"Don't Junior," said Mickey. "I feel just awful about this. I thought youhad a place that would earn your supper, and you had the room, and wouldbe all right."

"Why of course!" said Junior.

Mickey looked intently at him. "Now look here Junior," he said, "I got tosquare myself on this. I didn't think all the time you'd like Multiopolis,when you saw it with the bark off. Course viewing it on a full stomach,from an automobile, with spending money in your pocket, and a smooth runto a good home before you, is one thing; facing up to it, and asking it tohand out those things to you in return for work you can do here, withoutknowing the ropes, is another. You've stuck it out longer than I would,honest you have, but it isn't your game, and you don't know how, and you'dbe a fool to learn. I thought you'd get enough to satisfy you when youcame, but seeing for yourself seemed to be the only way to cure you."

"Oh don't start the 'I told you so,'" said Junior. "Father and mother willhand it out for the rest of my life. I'd as lief die as go back, but I'mgoing; not because I can't get in the game, and make a living if you can,even if I have to go out and start as you did, with a penny. I'm goingback, but not for the reason you think. It's because seen at close range,Multiopolis ain't what it looks like from an automobile. I know somethingthat I really know, and that comes natural to me, that beats it a mile;and now I've had my chance, and made my choice. I'm so sore I can't walk,but if you'll just call father and tell him to come in on high, I'llsettle with you later."

"Course if that's the way you feel, I'll call him," said Mickey, "butJunior, let me finish this much I was trying to say. I knew Multiopoliswould do to you all it had done to me, and I knew you wouldn't like it;but I _didn't_ figure on your big frame and fresh face spelling country'til it would show a mile down the street. I _didn't_ figure on yougetting the show I would, and I _didn't_ intend anything worse shouldhappen to you than has to me. Honest I didn't! I'm just about sick overthis Junior. Don't you want to go to Mr. Bruce's office--I got a key andhe won't care--don't you want to go there and rest a little, and feed upbetter, before I call your father?"

"No I don't! I got enough and I know it! They must know it some time; itmight as well come at once."

"Then let's go out on the car," said Mickey.

"I guess you don't realize just how bad this is," said Junior. "You callfather, and call him quick and emphatic enough to bring him."

"All right then," said Mickey. "Here goes!"

"And put the call in nearest place you can find and hustle back," saidJunior. "I'm done with alleys, and sluggers, and robbers. Goliath couldn'thave held his own against two big men, when he was fifteen, and I guessfather won't think I'm a coward because they got away with me. But youhurry!"

"Sure! I'll fly, and I'll get him if I can."

"There's no doubt about getting him. This is baked potato, bacon,blackberry roll, honey and bread time at our house. They wouldn't be awayjust now, and it's strange they have been so much this week."

Mickey gave Junior a swift glance; then raced to the nearest telephone.

"You Mickey?" queried Peter.

"Yes. It's you for S.O.S., and I'm to tell you to come on high, and loseno time in starting."

"Am I to come Mickey, or am I too busy?"

"You are to come, Peter, to my room, and in a hurry. Things didn't workaccording to program."

"Why what's the matter, Mickey?"

"Just what I told you would be when it came to getting a job here; but Ididn't figure on street sharks picking on Junior and robbing him, andfollowing him to my room, and slugging him 'til he can't walk. You comePeter, and come in a hurry, and Peter----"

"You better let me start----" said Peter.

"Yes, but Peter, one minute," insisted Mickey. "I got something to say toyou. This didn't work out as I planned, and I'm awful sorry, and you'll betoo. But Junior is cured done enough to suit you; he won't ever want toleave you again, you can bank on that--and he ain't hurt permanent; but ifyou have got anything in your system that sounds even a little bit like 'Itold you so,' forget it on the way in, and leave instructions with thefamily to do the same. See? Junior is awful sore! He don't need anythingrubbed in in the way of reminiscences. He's ready to do the talking. See?"

"Yes. You're sure he ain't really hurt?"

"Sure!" said Mickey. "Three days will fix him, but Peter, it's been mightyrough! Go easy, will you?"

"Mickey have you got money----"

"All we need, just you get here with the car, and put in a comfort andpillow. All my stuff is gone!"

Peter Senior arrived in a surprisingly short time, knelt on the floor andlooked closely at his sleeping boy.

"Naked and beaten to insensibility, you say?"

Mickey nodded.

"Nothing to eat for nearly two days?"

Another affirmation. Peter arose, pushed back his hat and wiped the sweatfrom his brow.

"I haven't been thinking about anything but him ever since he left," hesaid, "and what makes me the sorest is that the longer I think of it, thesurer I get that this is my fault. I didn't raise him right!"

"Aw-w-ah Peter!" protested Mickey.

"I've got it all studied out," said Peter, "and I didn't! There have beentwo mistakes, Junior's and mine, and of the two, mine is twice as big asthe boy's."

Peter stooped and picked up his son, who stirred and awakened. When hefound himself in his father's arms Junior clung to him and whispered overand over: "Father, dear father!" Peter gripped him with all his might andwhispered back: "Forgive me son! Forgive me!"

"Well I don't know what for?" sobbed Junior.

"You will before long," said Peter. He drove to a cool place, and let thecar stand while he called his wife, and explained all of the situation hesaw fit. She was waiting at the gate when they came. She never said a wordexcept to urge Junior to eat his supper. But Junior had no appetite.

"I want to run things here for a few minutes," he said. "When the childrenfinish, put them to bed, and then let me tell you, and you can decide whatyou'll do to me."

"Well, don't you worry about that," said Peter.

"No I won't," said Junior, "because there's nothing you can do that willbe half I deserve."

When the little folks were asleep, and Mickey had helped Mrs. Hardingfinish the work, and Jud Jason had been paid five dollars for his contractand had gone home, Junior lay in the hammock on the front porch, while hisfather, mother and Mickey sat close. When he started to speak Peter said:"Now Junior, wait a minute! You've been gone a week, and during that timeI've used my brains more than I ever did in a like period, even when I wascourting your Ma, and the subject I laboured on was what took you awayfrom us. I've found out why you were not satisfied, and who made youdissatisfied. The guilty party is Peter Harding, aided and abetted by oneNancy Harding, otherwise known as Ma----"

"Why father!" interrupted Junior.

"Silence!" said Peter. "I've just found out that it's a man's job to bethe _head of his family_, and I'm going to be the head of mine after this,and like Mickey here, 'I'm going to keep it.' Let me finish. I've spentthis week thinking, and all the things I have thought would make a biggerbook than the dictionary if they were set down. Why should you ask to beforgiven for a desire to go to Multiopolis when I carried you there as ababy, led you as a toddler, and went with you every chance I could trumpup as a man? Who bought and fed you painted, adulterated candy as a child,when your Ma should have made you pure clean taffy at home from our maplesyrup or as good sugar as we could buy? Often I've spent money that nowshould be on interest, for fruit that looked fine to you there, and provedto be grainy, too mellow, sour or not half so good as what you had athome.

"I never took you hunting, or fishing, or camping, or swimming, in yourlife; but I haven't had a mite of trouble to find time and money to takeyou to circuses, which I don't regret, I'll do again; and picture shows,which I'll do also; and other shows. I'm not condemning any form ofamusement we ever patronized so much, we'll probably do all of it again;but what gets me now, is how I ever came to think that the only_interesting things_ and those worth taking time and spending money on,were running to Multiopolis, to eat, to laugh, to look, and getting littleto show for it but disappointment and suffering for all of us. You haven'thad the only punishment that's struck the Harding family this week,Junior. Your Ma and I have had our share, and I haven't asked her if shehas got enough, but speaking strictly for myself, I have."

"I wouldn't live through it again for the farm," sobbed Mrs. Harding. "Isee what you are getting at Pa, and it's we who are the guilty parties,just as you say."

Junior sat up and stared at them.

"I don't so much regret the things I did," said Peter, "as I condemnmyself for the things I haven't done. I haven't taught you to ride so youdon't look a spectacle on a horse, and yet horses should come as naturalas breathing to you. You should be a skilled marksman; you couldn't hit awash-tub at ten paces. You should swim like a fish, with a hundred lakesin your country; you'd drown if you were thrown in the middle of one andleft to yourself. You ought to be able to row a boat as well as it can bedone, and cast a line with all the skill any lad of your age possesses.That you can't make even a fair showing at any sport, results from thefact that every time your father had a minute to spare he took you andheaded straight for Multiopolis. Here's the golf links at our door, and ifever any game was a farmer's game, and if any man has a right to hold uphis head, and tramp his own hills, and swing a strong arm and a free one,and make a masterly stroke, it's a _land owner_. There's no reason whyplowing and tilling should dull the brains, bend the back, or make a pack-horse of a man. Modern methods show you how to do the same thing a betterway, how to work one machine instead of ten men, how to have time for avacation, just as city men do, and how to have money for books, and music,and school, instead of loading with so much land it's a burden to pay thetaxes. I have quite a bunch of land for sale, and I see a way open to makethree times the money I ever did, with half the hard work. We've turnedover a new leaf at this place from start to finish, including the house,barn, land, and family. A year from now you won't know any of us; but thatlater. Just now, it's this: I'm pointing out to you Junior, exactly howyou came to have your hankering for Multiopolis. I can see you followedthe way we set you thinking, that all the amusing things were there, thesmart people, the fine clothes, the wealth, and the freedom----"

"Yes you ought to see the 'amusing things' and the 'happy people' whenyour stomach's cramping and your head splitting!" cried Junior. "I tellyou down among them it looks different from riding past in an automobile."

"Exactly!" conceded Peter. "Exactly what I'm coming at. All your life I'vegiven you the wrong viewpoint. Now you can busy yourselves planning how tomake our share of the world over, so it will bring all the joy of liferight to the front door. I guess the first big thing is to currycomb thewhole place, and fix it as it should be to be most convenient for us. Thenwe better take a course of training in making up our minds to be_satisfied_ with what we can afford. Junior, does home look better to youthan it did this time last week?"

"Father," began Junior, and sobbed aloud.

"The answer is sufficient," said Peter dryly. "Never mind son! When, withour heads put together, we get our buildings and land fixed right, Isuggest that we also fix our clothes and our belongings right. I can't seeany reason why a woman as lovely as Ma, should be told from any otherpretty woman, by her walk or dress. I don't know why a man as well set upas I am, shouldn't wear his clothes as easy as the men at the club house.I can't see why we shouldn't be at that same club house for a meal once ina while, just to keep us satisfied with home cooking, and that game looksinteresting. Next trip to Multiopolis I make, I'm going to get saddles forJunior and Mickey and teach them what I know about how to sit and handle ahorse properly; and it needn't be a plow horse either. Next day off Ihave, I'm going to spend hauling lumber to one of these lakes we decideon, to build a house for a launch and fishing-boat for us. Then when wehave a vacation, we'll drive there, shelter our car, and enjoy ourselveslike the city folks by the thousand, since we think what they do so rightand fine. They've showed us what they like, flocking five thousand at aclip, to Red Wing Lake a few miles from us. Since we live among what theyare spending their thousands every summer to enjoy, let's help ourselvesto a little pleasure. I am going to buy each of us a fishing rod, and geta box of tackle, soon as I reach it, and I'm going fast. I've wastedsixteen years, now I'm on the homestretch, and it's going to be a stretchof all there is in me to make our home the sweetest, grandest place onearth to us. Will you help me, Nancy?"

"I think maybe I'll be saved nervous prostration if I can help just a fewof these things to take place."

"Yes, I've sensed that," said Peter. "Mickey pointed that out to me themorning you jumped your job and headed for sunup. For years, just _halfyour time and strength has been thrown away using old methods andimplements in your work, and having the kitchen unhandy and inconvenient;and I'm the man who should have seen it, and got you right tools for yourjob at the same time I bought a houseful for myself and my work_. We muststir up this whole neighbourhood, and build a big entertainment house,where we can have a library suitable for country folks, and satisfying totheir ways of life. It's got to have music boxes in it, and a floor fitfor dancing and skating, and a stage for our own entertainments, and thefolks we decide to bring here to amuse us. We can put in a picture machineand a screen, that we can pay for by charging a few cents admission thenights we run it, and rent films once or twice a week from a good cityshow. We could fix up a place like that, and get no end of fun andeducation out of it, without going thirty miles and spending enough moneyin one night to get better entertainment for a month at home, and in acool, comfortable hall, and where we can go from it to bed in a fewminutes. Once I am started, with Mickey and Junior to help me, I'm goingto call a meeting and talk these things over with my neighbours, and getthem to join in if I can. If I can't, I'll go on and put up the buildingand start things as I think they should be, and charge enough admittanceto get back what I invest; and after that, just enough to pay runningexpenses and for the talent we use. I'm so sure it can be done, I'm goingto do it. Will you help me, son?"

"Yes father, I'd think it was fine to help do that," said Junior. "_Now_may I say what I want to?"

"Why yes, you might son," said Peter, "but to tell the truth I can't seethat you have anything to say. If you have got the idea, Junior, that youhave wronged us any, and that it's your job to ask us to forgive you forwanting to try the things we started and kept you hankering after all yourlife so far, why you're mistaken. If I'd trained you from your cradle tolove your home, as I've trained you to love Multiopolis, you never wouldhave left us. So if there is forgiving in the air, you please forgive me.And this includes your Ma as well. I should ask her forgiveness too, for awhole lot of things that I bungled about, when I thought I was loving herall I possibly could. I've got a new idea of love so big and all-encompassing it includes a fireless cooker and a dish-washing machine. I'mgoing to put it in practice for a year; then if my family wants to changeback, we'll talk about it."

"But father----" began Junior.

"Go to bed son," said Peter. "You can tell us what happened when you ain'tas sleepy as you are right now."

Junior arose and followed his mother to the kitchen.

"Ain't he going to let me tell what a fool I've been at all?" he demanded.

"I guess your Pa felt that when he got through telling what fools we'vebeen, there wasn't anything left for you to say. I know I feel that way.This neighbourhood does all in its power, from the day their children areborn, to teach them that _home_ is only a _stopping-place,_ to eat, andsleep, and work, and be sick in; and that every desirable thing in life isto be found _somewhere else_, the else being, in most cases, Multiopolis.Just look at it year after year gobbling up our boys and girls, and thinkover the ones you know who have gone, and see what they've come to. Amongthe men as far as I remember, Joel Harris went into a law office and madea rich, respectable man; and two girls married and have good homes; theothers, many of them, I couldn't name to you the places they are in. Thisneighbourhood needs reforming, and if Pa has set out to attempt it, I'lllend a hand, and I guess from what you got this week, you'll be in aposition to help better than you could have helped before."

"Yes I guess so too," said Junior emphatically.

He gladly went back to the cream wagon. Peter didn't want him to, butthere was a change in Junior. He was no longer a wilful discontented boy.He was a partner, who was greatly interested in a business and feltdissatisfied if he were not working at furthering it. He had little tosay, but his eyes were looking far ahead in deep thought. The firstmorning he started out, while Junior unhitched his horse, Peter filled thewagon and went back to the barn where Mickey was helping him.

Junior, passing, remembered he had promised Jud Jason to bring a bundle hehad left there, and stopped for it. He stepped into the small front doorand bent for the package lying in sight, when clearly and distinctly aroseMickey's voice lifted to reach Peter, at another task.

"Course I meant him to get enough to make him good and sick of it, like weagreed on; but I never intended him to get any such a dose as he had."

"Surest thing you know!" said Mickey. "I like Junior. I like him betterthan any other boy I ever knew, and I've known hundreds. I tell you Peter,he was gamer than you'll ever believe to hang on as long as he did."

"Yes I think that too," said Peter.

"You know he didn't come because he was all in," explained Mickey. "Youcan take a lot of pride in that. He'd about been the limit when he quit.And he quit, not because he was robbed and knocked out, but because whathe had seen showed him that Multiopolis wasn't the job he wanted for alife sentence. See?"

"I hope you are right about that," said Peter. "I'm glad to my soul to gethim home, cured in any way; but it sort of gags me to think of him ashaving been scared out. It salves my vanity considerable to feel, as yousay, that he had the brains to sense the situation, and quit because hefelt it wasn't the work for which he was born."

"Now lemme tell you Peter; I was there, and I _know_. It _was_ that way._It was just that way exact!_ He wasn't scared out, he'd have gone at itagain, all right, if he'd seen anything in it he _wanted_. It was just ashis mother felt when she first talked it over with me, and the same withyou later: that if he got to the city, and got right up against earning aliving there, he would find it wasn't what he wanted; and he did, like allof us thought. Course I meant to put it to him stiff; I meant to 'niciatehim in the ancient and honourable third degree of Multiopolis all right,so he'd have enough to last a lifetime; but I only meant to put him upagainst what I'd. had myself on the streets; I was just going to test hisginger; I wasn't counting on the robbing, and the alleys, and theknockout, and the morgue. Gee, Peter!"

Then they laughed. A dull red surged up Junior's neck, and flooded hisface. He picked up the bundle, went silently from the barn, and climbed onthe wagon. The jerk of the horse stopping at its accustomed place told himwhen to load the first can. He had been thinking so deeply he was utterlyoblivious to everything save the thought that it had been prearrangedamong them to "cure" him; even his mother knew about, if he heard aright,had been the instigator of the scheme to let him go, to be what Mickeycalled "initiated in the ancient and honourable third degree ofMultiopolis."

Once he felt so outraged he thought of starting the horse home, taking thetrolley, going back to Multiopolis and fighting his way to what his fatherwould be compelled to acknowledge success. He knew that he could do it; hewas on the point of vowing that he _would_ do it; but in his heart he knewbetter than any one else how repulsed he was, how he hated it, and againsta vision of weary years of fighting, came that other vision of himselfplanning and working beside his father to change and improve their homelife.

"It's a cold-blooded sell, Jud," he said promptly. "I'm glad I went when Idid, and found out for myself. You see it's like this, Jud: I _could_ havestayed and made my way; but I found out in a few days that I wouldn't givea snap for the way when it was made. We fellows are better off right wherewe are, and a lot of us are ready to _throw away_ exactly what _many ofthe men in Multiopolis are wild to get_. Now let me tell you----"

Junior told him, and through putting his experience into words, he easedhis heart and cleared his brain. He came to hints of great and wonder-working things that were going to happen soon. There was just apossibility that Jud gleaned an idea that the experience in Multiopolishad brought his friend home to astound and benefit the neighbourhood. Atany rate Junior picked up the lines with all the sourness gone from histemperament, which was usually sweet, except that one phrase of Mickey's,and the laughter. Suddenly he leaned forward.

"Jud, come here," he said. Junior began to speak, and Jud began tounderstand and sympathize with the boy he had known from childhood.

"Could we?" asked Junior.

"'Could we?' Well, I just guess we _could!_"

"When?" queried Junior.

"This afternoon, if he's going to be off," said Jud.

"Well I don't know what his plans are, but I could telephone from here andby rustling I could get back by two. I've done it on a bet. Where will wego, and what for?"

"To Atwater. Fishing is good enough excuse."

"All right! Father will let me take the car."

"Hayseed! Isn't walking good enough to suit you? What's the matter withthe Elkhart swale, Atwater marsh, and the woods around the head of thelake----"

"Hold the horse till I run in and 'phone him."

When he came down the walk he reported: "He wants to go fishing awful bad,and he'll be ready by two. That's all settled then. We'll have a finetime."

"Bully!" said Jud laconically, and started to the house of another friend,where a few words secured a boy of his age a holiday. Junior drove fast ashe dared and hurried with his work; so he reached home a little beforetwo, where he found Mickey with poles and a big can of worms ready.Despite the pressing offer of the car, they walked, in order to showMickey the country which he was eager to explore on foot. Junior said thesunfish were big as lunch plates at Atwater, the perch fine, and often ifyou caught a grasshopper or a cricket for bait, you got a big bass aroundthe shore, and if they had the luck to reach the lake, when there was noone ahead of them, and secured a boat they were sure of taking some.

"Wouldn't I like to see Lily eating a fish I caught," said Mickey,searching the grass and kicking rotting wood as he saw Junior doing tofind bass bait.

"Minnies are the real thing," explained Junior. "When we get the schemefather laid out going, before we start fishing, you and I will take a netand come to this creek and catch a bucketful of right bait, and then we'llhave man's sport, for sure. Won't it be great?"

"Exactly what the plutes are doing," said Mickey. "Gee, Junior, if your Padoes all the things he said he was going to, you'll be a plute yourself!"

"Never heard him say anything in my life he didn't do," said Junior, "anddidn't you notice that he put _you_ in too? You'll be just as much of aplute as I will."

"Not on your bromide," said Mickey. "He is _your_ father, and you'll be inbusiness with him; I'll just be along sometimes, as a friend, maybe."

"I usually take father at just what he says. I guess he means you to stayin our family, if you like."

"I wonder now!" said Mickey.

"Looks like it to me. Father and mother both like you, and they're daffyabout Peaches."

"It's because she's so little, and so white, and so helpless," Mickeyhastened to explain, "and so awful sweet!"

"Well for what ever it is, it _is_," said Junior, "and I'm just as crazyabout her as the rest. Look out kid! That fellow's coming right at us!"

Junior dashed for the fence, while Mickey lost time in turning to see what"that fellow" might be; so he faced the ram that had practised on MalcolmMinturn. With lowered head, the ram sprang at Mickey. He flew in air, andit butted space and whirled again, so that before the boy's breath wasfully recovered he lifted once more, with all the agility learned on thestreets of Multiopolis; but that time the broad straw hat he wore toprotect his eyes on the water, sailed from his head; he dropped the poles,and as the ram came back at him he hit it squarely in the face with thebait can, which angered rather than daunted it. Then for a few minutesMickey was too busy to know exactly what happened, and movements were tooquick for Junior. When he saw that Mickey was tiring, and the ram was not,he caught a rail from the fence and helped subdue the ram. Panting theyclimbed the fence and sat resting.

"Why I didn't know Higgins had that ram," said Junior. "We fellows alwayscrossed that field before. Say, there ain't much in that

'_Gentle sheep pray tell me why, In the pleasant fields you lie?_'

business, is there?"

"Not much but the lie," said Mickey earnestly.

Junior dropped from the fence and led the way toward a wood thick withunderbrush, laughing until his heart pained. As they proceeded they heardvoices.

"Why that sounds like my bunch," said Junior.

He whistled shrilly, which brought an immediate response, and soon twoboys appeared.

Armed with branches they came beating the air and him; until Mickey had afleeting thought that if the red-hot needles piercing him did not kill,the boys would. Presently he found himself beside a mudhole and as theothers "ouched" and "o-ohed" and bewailed their fate, and grabbed mud andplastered it on, he did the same. Jud generously offered, as he had not somany stings, to help Mickey. Soon even the adoring eyes of Peaches couldnot have told her idol from the mudhole. He twisted away from anapproaching handful crying: "Gee Jud! Leave a feller room to breathe! Ifyou are going to smother me, I might as well die from bites!"

"Bites!" cried the boys while all of them laughed wildly, so wildly thatMickey flushed with shame to think he had so little appreciation of thefun calling a sting a bite, when it was explained to him.

"Well they sure do get down to business," he chattered, chilling from theexquisite pain of a dozen yellow-jacket stings, one of which on his lefteyelid was rapidly closing that important organ. He bowed a willing headfor Jud's application of cold mud.

Finally they gathered up their poles and bait and again started toward thelake. The day was warm, and there was little air in the marsh, and on theswampy shore they followed. Suddenly Jud cried: "I tell you fellows,what's the use of walking all the way round the lake? Bet the boats willbe taken when we get there! Let's cut fishing and go swimming right herewhere there's a cool, shady place. It will be good for you Mickey, it willcool off your stings a lot."

Mickey promptly began to unbutton, and the others did the same. Then theymade their way through the swamp tangle lining the shore at the head ofthe lake, and tried to reach the water beside the tamaracks. Sam andJunior found solid footing, and waded toward deep water. Jud pilotedMickey to a spot he thought sufficiently treacherous, and said: "Looksgood here; you go ahead Mickey, and I'll come after you."

Mickey was unaccustomed to the water. He waded in with the assurance hehad seen the others use, but suddenly he cried: "Gee boys, I'm suckingright down!"

Then on his ears fell a deafening clamour. "Help! Help! Quicksands!Mickey's sinking! Help him!"

Mickey threw out his arms. He grabbed wildly; while a force, seeminglygentle but irresistible, sucked him lower and lower, and with each inch itbore him down, gripped tighter, and pulled faster. When he glanced at theboys he saw panic in their faces, and he realized that he was probablylost, and they were terror stricken. The first gulp of tepid shore waterthat strangled him in running across his gasping lips made him think ofPeaches. Struggling he threw back his head and so saw a widespreadingbranch of a big maple not far above him. All that was left of Mickey wentinto the cry: "Junior! Bend me that branch!" Junior swiftly climbed thetree, crept on the limb, and swayed it till it swept the water, thenMickey laid hold; just a few twigs, and then as Junior backed, and thebranch lifted higher and higher, Mickey worked, hand over hand, andfinally grasped twigs that promised to stand a gentle pull.

Then Jud began to shout instructions: "Little lower, Junior! Get a bettergrip before you pull hard, Mickey! Maple is brittle! Easy! It will snapwith you! Kind of roll yourself and turn to let the water in and loosenthe sand. Now roll again! Now pull a little! You're making it! You are outto your shoulders! Back farther, Junior! Don't you fall in, or you'll bothgo down!"

Mickey was very quiet now. His small face was pallid with the terror ofleaving Peaches forever with no provision for her safety. The grip of thesucking sand was yet pulling at his legs and body; while if the branchbroke he knew what it meant; that sucking, insistent pulling, and cavingaway beneath his feet told him. Suddenly Mickey gave up struggling, sethis teeth, and began fighting by instinct. He moved his shoulders gently,until he let the water flow in, then instead of trying to work his feet heheld them rigid and flattened as he could, and with the upper part of hisbody still rolling, he reached higher, and kept inching up the branch asJunior backed away, until with sickening slowness he at last reached woodthick as his wrist. Then he dragged his helpless body after him to safety,where he sank in a heap to rest.

"Jud, it's a good thing I went in there first," he said. "Heavy as youare, you'd a-been at the bottom by now, if there _is_ any bottom."

Mickey's gaze travelled slowly over his lumpy, purple frame, and then helooked closely at the others. "Why them stingers must a-give about all ofit to me," he commented. "I don't see any lumps on the rest of you."

"Oh we are used to it," scoffed Jud. "They don't show on you after you getused to them. 'Sides most all mine are on my head, I kept 'em off with thebushes."

"So did I," chimed in Sam and Junior with one voice.

"I guess I did get a lot the worst of it," conceded Mickey. "But if theyonly stung your heads, it's funny you didn't know where to put your mud!"

"Well I'll tell you," said Jud earnestly. "On your head they hurt worst ofall. They hurt so blame bad, you get so wild like you don't know where you_are_ stung, and you think till you cool off a little, you got them allover."

"Yes I guess you do," agreed Mickey.

The boys were slowly putting on their clothing and Junior was scowlingdarkly. Jud edged close.

"Gosh!" he whispered. "I thought it was only a little spring! I didn'tthink it was a quicksand!"

"You cut out anything more!" said Junior tersely.

Jud nodded. After a while they started home, walking slowly and each onebeing particularly careful of and good to Mickey. When he had rested, hecould see that it was only an accident; such an astounding one he forgothis bites and could talk of little else.

They made another long pause under a big tree, and Mickey felt so muchbetter as they again started home, that Junior lagged behind, and Judseeing, joined him. Junior asked softly: "Have any more?"

Jud nodded.

"What?" whispered Junior.

Jud told him.

"Oh that! Nothing in that! Go on!"

So they struck into the path they had followed from the swamp to thewoods, when suddenly a warm, yielding, coiling thing slipped underMickey's feet. With a wild cry he leaped across the body of a bigrattlesnake that had been coiled in the path. As he arose, clear cutagainst the light launched the ugly head and wide jaws of the rattler,then came the sickening buzz of its rattles in mad recoil for a secondstroke.

"Run Mickey! Jump!" screamed Junior.

"What is it?" asked Mickey bewildered.

"Rattlesnakes! Sure death!" yelled Jud. "Run fool!"

But Mickey stood perfectly still, and looked, not where the increasingbuzz came from, but at them. They had no choice. Jud carried a heavy club;he threw himself in front of Mickey and as the second stroke came, heswung at the snake's head. The other boys collected their senses and beatit to pulp, then the dead mate it watched beside. Junior glared at Jud,but when he saw how frightened he was, he knew what had happened.

Mickey gazed at the snakes in horror.

"Ain't that a pretty small parcel to deal out sudden death in?" he asked."And if they're laying round like that, ain't we taking an awful risk tobe wading through here, this way? Gee, they're the worst sight I eversaw!"

Mickey became violently ill. He lay down for a time, while the boys waitedon him, and at last when he could slowly walk toward home, they went on.Jud and Sam left them at the creek, and Junior and Mickey started up theHarding lane. Suddenly Mickey sat down in a fence corner, leaned againstthe rails, and closed his eyes.